Anonymous Confessions

In the last few years a number of websites, similar to Anonyming, have been created that offer visitors the chance to share their thoughts and feelings online without the need to indicate their identity to others.

These ‘Anonymous Confessions’ sites, also called ‘Secret Confessions’ sites or ‘True Confessions’ sites, allow people to post anything on their mind to a website without having to be concerned about repercussions. There are many benefits to using these websites, however those posting should do so with caution.

Anonymity Is Scarce

In a culture that everyday offers fewer opportunities for any privacy, there can be a strong appeal to expression that’s not self-regulated due to the potential for a negative outcome.

Most people have had the experience of posting comments to Facebook or other social networking sites only to delete them because of concern that someone will be offended. This natural check on our expression can feel very limiting in some ways.

In fact we may have very few outlets for our honest opinions. Concerned about the impact our views and expression may have on friends, family, or employers, most people simply avoid discussing thoughts and opinions that are more challenging or controversial. As a result, people often simply don’t have any way to express many of their feelings. This can be a strong reason why anonymous confessions sites are an important resource.

We Need Emotional Outlets

Self-expression is an important part of mental health.

The study of psychology has made it clear that we need to vent; that it’s literally unhealthy to keep strong emotions inside. And yet, most people don’t go to therapy or have any outlet for those emotions. While most have friends and family they can trust with their feelings and thoughts, some things we’d like to express are simply too unpopular, shocking, or negative for even those we love.

This can be where anonymous confessions site come into play. We don’t want to shout our feelings at a wall. An important part of venting is knowing someone is listening. With websites that allow us to express ourselves to an audience, but don’t require that we share our name or email, we are able to have the experience of getting things off our chest with an audience without the possibility that anyone we know will be offended.

Boundaries

While there are many benefits to anonymous confessions sites and social networks, it’s also important that people have a certain amount of caution. While most sites that offer anonymous posting don’t heavily edit their content, there are some things that aren’t allowed on these sites and also some things that visitors simply should not say.

Most websites that offer anonymous posting have guidelines in place that restrict the discussion of certain topics and kinds of information.

It is often against the rules on these sites to post confessions of a felony as that puts the website administrator in a position to feel the need to report a users comments. Topics such as rape, suicide, pedophilia, and murder may be restricted for this reason.

Anonymous Confession Websites

Over the past three years a number of websites have been created that offer the opportunity for mostly unregulated speech. The following are a few of the more prominent.

Websites That Feature Anonymous Confessions

Are Anonymous Confessions Really Secret?

While anonymous confessions sites may not maintain a log of a users name or email, all visits to any website are logged with the hosting service provider and so in some sense anonymity only goes so far. For this reason it is best for people to avoid advocating violence against government officials or any acts of terrorism. It is also suggested, as stated above, that people not confess to felonies.

In this atmosphere of diminishing privacy and NSA data collection, it’s important that people realize that ‘anonymous’ sites are not 100% anonymous. Generally speaking, users can expect their comments to remain anonymous. But it’s the responsibility of the user to avoid saying things that in public terms might lead to a police, FBI, NSA, or secret service investigation.

The Legality of Anonymous Confessions

Anonymous speech is strongly protected under the law. Your speech is protected as private when you speak to your therapist, your lawyer, or a journalist. And online anonymity is also protected. It is intended under the law that you should be able to share information without fear of reprisal, once again given that you aren’t advocating terrorism or admitting to felonies.

Anonymous confessions sites and anonymous social networks can provide the opportunity to speak freely.

Many of these sites and services are specifically meant to allow people a freedom to speak they do not have elsewhere. Unfortunately, with recent revelations about government intelligence gathering it would seem that people no longer can have the expectation that anything they do online is really private.

The Politics of Anonymous Confessions

While it may be the case that your privacy is protected under the law, there can be no protection from powerful government entities that are themselves breaking the law by violating your privacy. Those using anonymous confessions sites should be very cautious about what they express, even when privacy is guaranteed.

As a result of recent revelations about NSA domestic spying there is a growing movement of people who are demanding that their right to privacy online and off be better protected. However, not everyone agrees.

On one side of the debate are those pushing for greater protection of privacy. On the other side are those who believe that we must give intelligence and law enforcement agencies wide latitude in combating threats to our safety.

Regardless of your position on this issue, it’s becoming an important political concern for many and something that will be hotly debated for many years to come.

Have Fun with Caution

Ultimately, assuming you aren’t confessing to anything criminal, anonymous confessions sites can be a very healthy outlet. As more people find these sites and the concept becomes more popular we can expect to see more sites and new and creative ways that they allow for anonymous expression.

I’m bi, and my family is Christian. I haven’t heard them openly talk about the lgbtq+ community, but at least one person is probably against it. I ordered a shirt on Amazon a couple days ago that says “Hi I’m Bi” and, when I’m ready to, I’m going to wear that shirt to come out to them. I want to do it soon, but I don’t know if I’ll have the nerve to do so.

I just told my family “fuck god I’m gay” mind you I said that in the middle of church… Let’s just say I don’t even really remember what my half my family looks like anymore because I haven’t seen them in years

Honestly, there’s a lot of things I could confess about. Maybe I could start with my ever so wonderful shit-storm I call my mental health! As a victim of childhood abuse of multiple types, sexual assault, and a fuck-ton of loss, There are a WHOLE LOT of effects on your head. Let’s name the main things for me. Anxiety, depression, PTSD, and being suicidal. I’ve had most of these since around 4-5 y/o. and it’s HELL. But with me being me I’m still too nice for my own good. I literally attract people like me, because I’m kind and comforting, and I always help them because they’re my friends but I rarely get help or get listened to. Only a couple people noticed when I’m literally getting so bad I might relapse back to cutting or try and overdose for like the 17th time. I don’t know what to do anymore.

I have depression, so I can see where you’re coming from. Sometimes, you have to put yourself in front of others and make yourself a priority, so maybe you could tell your friends what’s going on. They can probably help you more than I can. But please, please, PLEASE don’t do self harm. I know someone who cut themselves, and they regret it. Tell your friends what is going on, then take their advice.

Does anyone know the best way to kill themselves in a house? We have a gun but that’s locked in a gun safe and I don’t know the code. I’m looking for something quick and painless. We have a pool so drowning myself could be an option.

So a year ago (almost two now) my best friend came out to me as bisexual or at least bi-curious. I knew that she had a crush on a straight girl back then but that relationship never worked out. So much time has passed since then. Ever since she started dating another girl for the first time though, I’ve noticed that I’ve starting thinking about her more often in “different” ways. Maybe I’ve just started to admire her more because of how open she is with her sexuality, but over the past month I’ve grown a serious crush on her. I myself identify as a straight girl, and have never even considered myself to be a part of the LGBT community until now. The thought of coming out or proving my suspicions true terrifies me, but I also think that something could actually happen between us, and that excites me too.

Why should I care about others who don’t care about me? And then they get mad because I don’t help. Why should I? Do they suddenly have the right to be comforted by someone they don’t even notice? Is it my obligation to help them? I don’t recall them being my friend nor do I recall being their friend. They could vanish for all I care, if that’s the only way they’ll see I don’t give a damn.

a few years back i was fooling around with my gay lover reinhold. we mixed a batch of concrete and i reclined on the table with my feet up on the wall. reinhold then placed a funnel in my rectum and poured in the mixture.